Deep-vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Symptoms and Treatment

Our body contains lot of veins that carry blood from tissue to heart. They are the blood carriers. There are two vein systems in our carcass. One is called superficial systems and the other one is deep system. Superficial system lies closer to the skin that can be seen on hand arms and legs. When the skin is pierced or cut with a sharp edge, the blood that oozes out comes from the superficial system because of its proximity to the outer portion of the body.

The veins of the deep system lie buried inside the muscles. The quantity of blood that passes through both the vein systems is controlled by the body in such a way that the body temperature remains at normal at all times. This is because the body sheds more temperature when the flow of blood is increased through the superficial veins than through the deep one. Another feature in the body is that the two systems are connected with each other through small veins.

Deep Vein Thrombosis
Thrombus means clot. When blood clot occurs in deep vein systems, the condition is said to be Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This state is very serious in that the blood clotting results in the reverse flow of the blood to the heart and through that to lungs eventually.

In medical parlance, this condition of reverse flow is known as pulmonary embolism (PE). The blood clot is known as embolus and the process of blood traveling back to the lungs through heart is known as embolism. The seriousness of Deep-Vein Thrombosis can be understood by the fact that almost 30% of DVT leads to pulmonary embolism. A survey has found out that about 60,000 people in US die of PE annually. More often than not, the death due to PE is misunderstood to be caused by heart attacks.

Similar to DVT the superficial thrombophlebitis occurs in superficial system of veins leading to the formation of swelling, pain and redness on the skin surface of the area. Like DVT it is not so serious a problem. Every part of the body is prone to be affected by DVT but the decease affects thighs, legs and pelvis more frequently.

Causes
What causes DVT? It is caused by several factors including injury to the veins, slow flow of blood in the veins and the tendency of the blood to get clotted. Hence people affected by paralysis, with a cast on leg for healing a fractured bone, confined to bed for longer durations for medical or surgical reasons and sitting crossed legs for longer duration are in higher risk for developing DVT.

The tendency of the blood to clot is increased because of certain conditions. While some conditions are developed in one’s life, some others are inherited by birth. Use of birth control pills, the state of pregnancy, the decease cancer and ulcerative colitis and some unusual blood conditions are examples of acquired conditions. Deficiencies in blood components and factors having defective blood clotting quality are owned by birth.

DVT Symptoms
Leg pain in one leg, leg tenderness in one leg, swelling and increased warmth in one leg, redness of the skin in one leg are some of the symptoms of DVT. The malaise can be examined with the help of x-rays, Doppler scans, plethysmography and blood tests. The causes for increased clotting, known as hypercoagulability can be understood by means of blood tests

DVT treatment
DVT Treatment is treatment for blood clotting. This helps prevent the occurrence of PE in DVT affected person. For decades, a medicine called, heparin is being used. The main function of heparin is to stop blood clotting. Normally it is administered through veins and for this reason the patient is to be admitted in a hospital for treatment. It increases the anticoagulation property of the blood.

Along with the heparin, an oral medication called warfarin is used. But warfarin is slow in starting its work. Hence heparin is continued along with warfarin for at least 24 hours. Warfarin is to be continued for at least 6 months. The function of warfarin is to increase the time taken for blood clotting, known as prothrombin time (PT). The ability of blood to clot properly is measured by means of a system called International Normalized ratio (INR). Warfarin is adjusted in such a way that INR is between 2 & 3.

People should understand the seriousness of the ailment and take all possible steps for avoiding it.